Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge

Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment Mayaguez, Puerto Rico U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia May 2012 ii Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge Table of Contents SECTION A. COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN I. BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose And Need For The Plan ................................................................................................. 1 Fish and Wildlife Service .............................................................................................................. 1 National Wildlife Refuge System .................................................................................................. 2 Legal and Policy Context .............................................................................................................. 4 National and International Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..................................................... 5 Relationship To State Wildlife Agency ..........................................................................................6 II. REFUGE OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................ 7 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 7 Refuge History and Purpose ........................................................................................................ 7 Special Designations .................................................................................................................... 9 Ecosystem Context .......................................................................................................................9 Regional Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..............................................................................10 Ecological Threats and Problems ............................................................................................... 12 Physical Resources .................................................................................................................... 15 Climate .............................................................................................................................. 15 Geology and Topography ..................................................................................................16 Hydrology and Water resources ........................................................................................16 Air Quality ..........................................................................................................................16 Biological Resources .................................................................................................................. 19 Habitat ............................................................................................................................... 19 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................... 20 Listed Species ................................................................................................................... 23 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 24 Socioeconomic Environment ...................................................................................................... 24 Population ......................................................................................................................... 24 Political Setting ..................................................................................................................25 Employment ...................................................................................................................... 25 Refuge Administration and Management ...................................................................................26 Land Protection and Conservation ....................................................................................26 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 26 Personnel, Operations, and Maintenance .........................................................................26 III. PLAN DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................................................. 27 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 27 Summary of Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities .....................................................................27 Fish and Wildlife Population Management ........................................................................28 Habitat Management .........................................................................................................28 Resource Protection ..........................................................................................................28 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 28 Refuge Administration .......................................................................................................28 Wilderness Review ..................................................................................................................... 28 Table of Contents i IV. MANAGEMENT DIRECTION ....................................................................................................... 29 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 29 Vision ......................................................................................................................................... 30 Goals, Objectives, and Strategies .............................................................................................. 30 Fish and Wildlife Population Management........................................................................ 31 Habitat Management......................................................................................................... 32 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 33 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 34 Refuge Administration ...................................................................................................... 36 V. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ............................................................................................................ 39 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 39 Proposed Projects ...................................................................................................................... 39 Fish And Wildlife Population Management ....................................................................... 39 Habitat Management......................................................................................................... 40 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 40 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 41 Refuge Administration ...................................................................................................... 41 Funding and Personnel .............................................................................................................. 42 Partnership/Volunteers Opportunities ........................................................................................ 42 Step-Down Management Plans .................................................................................................. 42 Monitoring and Adaptive Management ....................................................................................... 43 Plan Review and Revision.......................................................................................................... 43 SECTION B. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT I. BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................... 45 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 45 Purpose and Need for Action ..................................................................................................... 45 Decision Framework................................................................................................................... 46 Planning Study Area .................................................................................................................. 46 Authority, Legal Compliance, and

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